OXFORD — The most key component to Clear Creek Amana’s offseason softball workouts hasn’t been pitching.
Or hitting. Or fielding.
It has been the constuction of a team. A true team.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chad Christensen (Cedar Rapids Washington) — Senior slugger is headed to the University of Nebraska to play next year. Shortstop and pitcher hit .565 last season and was named first-team all-state in Class 4A by Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Austin Christensen (Cedar Rapids Kennedy) — Chad’s younger brother was a second-team all-state outfielder in 4A last season as a freshman. Hit .433 to help Kennedy to the state tournament.
Scott Schebler (Cedar Rapids Prairie) — The IHSBCA recognized him as a second-team 4A all-stater last season as a …

By Jeff Johnson
The Gazette
ALBURNETT — It’s early into a Monday evening practice. Alburnett players are lined up in the outfield from foul line to foul line, performing a relay throwing drill.
At one point, a player drops a chest-high throw from a teammate, incurring the considerable wrath of his head coach.
“Catch the ball, gosh darn it!” the coach barks. “Absolutely no excuse for that!”
Instinctively, all four players in this particular relay line drop to the ground and start doing push-ups. So does the coach.
Phil Katz is back.
“It’s kind of got me …

EIGHT GAZETTE-AREA TEAMS TO WATCH FOR 2009:

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Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Hannah Petersen was a 4A first-team all-state pitcher as an eighth-grader.

A LOOK AT 16 GAZETTE-AREA SOFTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH:

RACHEL DREES. P, Jr., Western Dubuque — 27-8, 1.49 ERA. 192 K and 64 BB in 229 2/3 IP. Batted .373. 3A 1st-team all-state in 2008.
MICHAELA FLIGG. P, Sr., Clear Creek Amana – 22-2, 0.92 ERA. 3A 2nd-team all-state in 2008.
MALLORY LACY. P, Sr., Anamosa – 16-13, 1.29 ERA. 343 BB and 119 BB in 207 IP. Batted .189. 3A 2nd-team all-state in 2008.
ALLYSSA NEIGHBOR. P, Sr., Alburnett – 17-6, 1.39 ERA. 1A …